College to career: Q&A with anthropology alum Indy Carter
Two-time Wayne State anthropology alum, Indy Carter, B.A. '17, M.A. '18, serves as a senior researcher for Bold Insight — a full-service human factors and UX research consultancy. In this role, Indy designs, procures sales and executes human factors (HF) and user experience (UX) research projects for clients. In this Q&A, they reflect on their academic journey at Wayne State, the defining moments that shaped their career and the invaluable advice they have for aspiring research professionals.
How long have you been in this position?
About two years as a researcher and about three years as a senior.
What other anthropology-related positions have you held in the past?
None! This is my first industry job after completing my master's.
How did your training in anthropology help to shape your career?
Completing the practicum portion of the business anthropology master program (The “Chevy” project) gave me the UX research experience I needed to be qualified for the entry-level position. On top of that, my company had a good track record hiring anthropologists so I did not need to convince them of the qualitative skills I had that were required for the job!
What is a typical day at work like for you?
It depends. 😉 Most days are remote, conducting project management tasks for the different life cycles of the projects I am managing (document preparation, recruit management, client calls, training, reporting, admin, etc.). Most of our fieldwork is conducted either remote or locally in our Chicagoland facilities. Sometimes I get to travel to a different city/state to execute fieldwork.
How have your experiences in Wayne State's anthropology program affected your career choices and preparation for the job you have now?
Anthropology is recognized as an applicable field to the UX industry, and having the practicum experience solidified my qualifications for an entry-level UX position. Once on the job, I learned about human factors and pivoted to specializing in HF/medical device testing. However, I regularly conduct both UX and HF studies.
Why would you recommend Wayne State and/or our anthropology program to prospective students? What makes the program or university distinct from other options they might be considering?
The business anthropology offerings at WSU always surprise and impress people when I tell them about it. This seems to be very unique and, just to really drive the point home, the practicum is really what set me up for success by giving me the exact skills that UX employers are looking for.